After a very busy summer, my good friend Mike Brunson and I finally found a little time to get away for a some canyoneering. Leaving in the morning, we knew we wouldn't have a lot of time for a big canyon in Zion National Park, so we decided to do a couple of little canyons outside of the park, camp overnight, and then do a bigger Zion canyon the next day. We had heard quite a bit about both Yankee Doodle and Boltergiest and decided to give them a go. Both of them are short, two hour canyons near each other, so we decided to do them both back to back soon after arriving around mid-morning.
Mike stemming across one of the few pools we encountered in Yankee Doodle.
It is a very beautiful little canyon that requires no permit -- no wonder it is so popular.
Mike coming up the exit slabs out of Yankee Doodle canyon.
Sliding into Boltergiest.
Mike coming off one of the longer rappels in Boltergiest.
The Boltergiest exit.
Good friends enjoying camp time.
Mike coming up the Walters Wiggles section of the West Rim trail on our way to Behunin Canyon in Zion National Park.
Hiking past the Angels Landing trail and happy to do so -- too many people.
One of the many beautiful sites along the West Rim trail.
Mike on approach to the first rappels after leaving the main trail.
After a fairly long approach, we're finally on the ropes.
Great to be back in Zion again.
Behunin is not one of the typical Zion slot canyons. In fact I wouldn't even call it a slot canyon.
It is a very big, scenic and open canyon. It never really does "slot up."
Most of Behunin is wide open as seen in this picture.
This is as narrow as Behunin gets. Not a slot canyon, but still very beautiful and one of our favorites.
The final 165 foot rappel near Middle Emerald Pool.
This picture is of the last member of the group that was ahead of us. We caught up with them at this final station and they were kind enough to let us rappel off their ropes.
It was a great couple of days shared between good friends.